Firt off, how wide is your window? I have an 8' wide window in my LR that I had custom drapes made by Calico Corners and a custom measure--paid way too much for them, but learned a lot in the process. They stack back fully on each side. I just measured and the stack is about 22" per side which I think looks about right, though at the base they fan out a bit since they are really full. They are fully operable, pinch pleats. Here they are just after installation: As you can see they are designed to stack back to the sides of the window--even behind the window trim, though in my dining room there was less room on the sides to accomodate the rod, so the stack only cleared the sides of the window (not the trim): Note they are also installed closer to the ceiling as they ceilings are 8' and I wanted to raise the eye. See the little silver things on the rod? Those are supports which I still need to paint the covers. Mine are that way as it's a traverse rod that I can fully open/close contrasting with fivefootzero's wooden supports (she has two). With the wooden ones you cannot pull the drape beyond the support, hence you have very important decision to make do you want privacy or not? You can still get privacy without going custom, but your response will help me better frame what to say next. Stationary panels are just that--they are dressed in attractive folds and left that way. You may be able to ope/close them, but they don't have that same look you see in the pics unless you "dress" them. Pinch pleated drapery are meant to open/close and the folds fall naturally withoout any "dressing." If you just want to do stationary panels with a really wide window some elect to install two shorter rods to either side of the window (there is an example above) instead of seeing the really long rod dividing the space. If you opt for stationary panels, I think this could be a good look for you. HTH

I went to an estate sale recently and out in a dusty, forgotten corner of the garage found a large JC Penney box FILLED with very carefully kept greeting cards dating from the 1930's to the 1980's. Every card that this couple had exchanged--and they had celebrated every holiday you can think of with very nice, expensive cards--had been lovingly saved. I absolutely could not bear the thought of just tossing the record of a 50 year love affair into the garbage, so I bought them. I had no idea what I would every do with them. I find myself going through them once in a while, reading their little notes to each other and later, the long, chatty notes from their son and daughter after they had married and moved away. The cards mark the time span from their engagement right through their marriage, into the later years and failing health and hospital stays. I finally took several of the more stunning cards and decoupaged them onto glass blocks and lit the inside of the block with clear mini lights. They look great decorated with ribbon and other vintage trim, and now these great cards can be enjoyed for a long time to come. :) This might be an idea for some of the cards you want to display all the time or use as holiday decorations.

thanks, thanks a lot :) I am now going to look on ebay. I have found my perfect purse, wallet and laptop/work bag (backpack). They are coach. I carried them for about 10 years in brown (mahogany). since I used them daily they were kind of beat up by then and I decided I wanted to start using black. I found the exact bags, all three, in black, gently used, on ebay. it took some searching but I love them still. I think I need a back up though and as time goes on I am sure it will be harder to find. I need to set up my searches on ebay again!

I just remembered that I said I would post comments about the Travelon Classic Mini Shoulder bag. I purchased it in black, but this photo in beige shows details better. I have not used it yet, but I think I'll switch over today. Vacay starts very soon. If it isn't going to work, now is the time to discover that. My observations so far are that it is heavier than the Longchamps Le Pliage (medium) that I carry everyday. I think most of the weight for the Travelon bag is in the cut resistant strap. The strap is rather stiff, but I suppose that is to be expected if it is cut resistant. I can't remember if this purse has a steel cable in the strap or if it were one of the others I was looking at. It is a very deep purse but doesn't have a side or bottom gusset. So, it is more like a knife edge pillow than a box edge pillow (hope that analogy makes sense). I read une femme d'un certain age, too. I love the Longchamp bag with the crossbody strap, but it is not something I'd carry often enough to justify the cost. Lars, love your bag. Wish I could get DH to carry one like it instead of loading all of his stuff into my purse!